Minecraft Game Adds Ordnance Survey GB Terrain Data

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Minecraft game includes Ordnance Survey GB terrain data By Matthew Wall Technology reporter, BBC News



23 September 2013



Minecraft, the well-loved video game that combines monsters and building has now been able to incorporate precise Ordnance Survey terrain data of Great Britain in its blockwork virtual world.



The game's 33 million players can create worlds on top of accurate landscapes covering 224,000 sq km (86,000 sq miles) of Britain. FREE FORUMS



Joseph Braybrook, an intern with OS's Innovation Labs, created the GB Minecraft world in just two weeks.



It makes use of OS OpenData products for free.



Graham Dunlop, OS Innovation Lab Manager, stated that "we believe we've created the biggest Minecraft world ever" Based on real-world data.



"The resulting map demonstrates the huge potential of Minecraft not only for geography and computer technology-related purposes in schools, but also for the wide range of OS OpenData applications."



Minecraft was created in 2009 by Swede Markus "Notch" The game is a virtual world that is made up cubes of different materials like rock, sand and lava.



Players can collaborate in the construction of shelters, creating things from raw materials and fighting off a variety of monsters.



The OS GB world contains more than 22 billion Minecraft blocks.



Once players have downloaded the map into Minecraft and then logged in, they can enter the 3D virtual world through OS's headquarters in Southampton and from there can recreate real-life features, like Stonehenge or even imagined structures such as Hogwarts castle.



The OS map products OS Terrain 50 and OS VectorMap OS Terrain 50 and OS VectorMap - combine to create a 3D representation of the earth's surface, overlayed with features such as roads, woodlands, and water.



Players can design their own structures on top of real-world terrain.



OS is the GB’s national mapping authority. Its maps cover the mainland and the islands surrounding it but not Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands. FREE FORUMS



Ordnance Survey